Team Members

The Human Dimensions of Hazards Research Group draws on the skills and knowledge base of faculty, student researchers, community members, and external researchers.

Human Dimension of Hazard Research Group

Faculty

Tara McGee, PhD

Director

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Tara directs the Human Dimensions of Hazards Research Group at the University of Alberta, where she is also Professor of Human Geography in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Her research focuses on individual, community, and organizational responses to environmental hazards, focusing on wildfires. While primarily focused on the human dimensions of wildfire research in Canada, particularly in First Nations communities, she has also collaborated with researchers in Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal. Tara's research has been published in numerous journals and books. Tara enjoys mentoring undergraduate and graduate student researchers. She obtained her PhD from The Australian National University.
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Students

Sumaira Niazi

First Nations Community WildfiresPreparedness in BC

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Sumaira Niazi is a doctoral student in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta. She is also working as a research assistant in the Human Dimensions of Hazard research group on a project, "First Nations Community Wildfire Preparedness in BC," funded by BC Wildfire Services. She previously earned a master’s degree in Emergency Management and Disaster Sciences from the University of North Texas, United States. Her recent project, "The Influence of Neighborhood Demographics on Post-Buyout Land Use Development in Harris County, Texas," earned a student paper competition award from the American Association of Geographers. Her research interests include preparedness, mitigation, and recovery planning for environmental disasters.

Email Address: sniazi1@ualberta.ca

Sandani Siriwardhana

Public support for returning fire to the land in BC
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Sandani is a first-year Master of Arts in Human Geography student in the Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta. Through her master’s thesis, she is exploring public support for returning fire to the land in BC with Dr. McGee. In 2020, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Environment Science and, in 2023, a postgraduate diploma in Climate Change and Environmental Management from the University of Colombo.
Email Address: sandani@ualberta.ca

Shubham Chaudhary

Visiting Research Scholar, Human Dimensions of Environmental Disasters
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Shubham is a visiting research scholar funded by SERB, India. He is a doctoral researcher working on Human Dimensions of Environmental Disasters in the Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, at the University of Alberta. He earned his Master's in Geology from India and is currently registered for a Ph.D. in AcSIR, CSIR CBRI India. His research focuses on Disaster Resilience and Human Dimensions related to landslide disasters.Email addressschaudh5@ualberta.ca

Nathan Polard-Yopek, BA

First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Project
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Nathan is a second year Master of Arts in Human Geography student in the Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, at the University of Alberta, and a proud member of the Fond Du Lac Denesuline First Nation. Through his master’s thesis, he is exploring First Nations wildfire preparedness with Dr. McGee. In 2019, he earned a Bachelors in Political Science and Earth and Atmospheric Science, with distinction, from the University of Alberta. Nathan is a member of the Canadian Association of Geographers, and currently sits on the Earth & Atmospheric Graduate Students' Society executive council.

Researchers

Doug Yearwood, PhD

Rapid Response Research for the 2023 Alberta Wildfires: Host Communities
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Doug completed his PhD in 2023 at Queen's University. His doctoral research was interdisciplinary, incorporating political economic, sociological, and geographical perspectives, and focused on gentrification and how it is enabled by financial actors and policy changes at different levels of government. He has taught several courses centred on human rights, international relations, and public administration. As part of the Human Dimension of Hazards Research Group, Doug's research focuses on host communities during the 2023 Alberta wildfires, exploring host community practices and the challenges that emerged during these crises.
Email Address: ddyearwo@ualberta.ca

Alumni

Nicolas Basque, MA

Community Relocation and Social Capital Project
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Nic was a student in the MA in Disaster and Emergency Management program at Royal Roads University. He holds a graduate certificate in Emergency Management from the Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology. Nic currently works with Public Safety Canada. He previously worked in emergency management at Indigenous Services Canada, where he had the opportunity to engage directly with First Nations during flood and wildland fire events. Through his thesis (Adapting together: Exploring the relationships between social capital and planner relocation as a disaster risk reduction measure), Nic explored the impacts of relocation on social capital with a First Nations community. Nic was a 2020 Mitacs Research Training Award recipient.
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Maia Foster-Sanchez, MA

First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Project
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Maia completed her MA in Disaster and Emergency Management in 2021 at Royal Roads University. Her thesis titled “Hosting with Humility: Timmins’ 2019 Host Community Experiences” focused on exploring the 2019 Timmins wildfire host community experience. Using qualitative semi-structured interviews, Maia’s thesis examined the impacts of hosting evacuees on the city and what improvements could be undertaken to reduce negative impacts on the host community and negative experiences for evacuees. Maia is currently working as an emergency manager at the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management in Ontario.

Courtney Askin, MA

Engagement of Indigenous Peoples in Wildland Fire Management Project
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Courtney completed a Master of Arts in Human Geography at the University of Alberta, graduating in 2021. Her thesis (How and Why Indigenous Peoples are Engaged in Wildland Fire Management) focused on how and why Indigenous Peoples are engaged in wildland fire management in Canada and New Zealand. Courtney worked for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services Branch for more than a decade.

Amy Cardinal Christianson, PhD

First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Project
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As a Fire Social Scientist, Amy conducts research on the human dimensions of wildfire for the Canadian Forestry Service. She completed her PhD at the University of Alberta in 2011 (Wildfire risk perception and mitigation at Peavine Métis Settlement).
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Vaughn Beaulieu-Mercredi

First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Project
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Vaughn is pursuing a BA in Political Science and Native Studies at the University of Alberta. He plays the oboe in the University Concert Band, and is President of the U of A's Aboriginal Student Council. Vaughn worked with Dr. McGee as a I-STEAM Summer Intern (2020) to complete research on wildfire smoke impacts.

Arshad Khalafzai, PhD

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Arshad completed his PhD in spring 2020. His doctoral research adopted a post-positivist approach and used mixed methods research explored the elevated spring flooding risk in Kashechewan First Nation, Northern Ontario, examined their experiences of frequent flooding risk and recurring evacuations, and determined their perceived adaptive capacity. Arshad also has over 28 years of international experience in the fields of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction/management (DRR/M), sustainable development, and human and socio-economic development. Before completing his Ph.D. at the University of Alberta, he held various positions with the United Nations (UNICEF and UNESCO), the International Rescue Committee, Oxfam, the University of Alberta and York University, and the National Commission for Human Development, Pakistan.

Kyla Mottershead, MA

First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Project
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Kyla completed her MA in Human Geography in 2017 at the University of Alberta. Her thesis (The 2012 Wildfire Evacuation Experiences of Dene Tha' First Nation) focused on the 2012 evacuation experiences of Dene Tha' First Nation in northern Alberta. After finishing her degree, Kyla worked at Alberta Health Services as an Evaluation Analyst and Health Promotion Facilitator for the Provincial Mental Health Promotion and Illness Prevention Unit. Kyla now lives in New Zealand where she is Project Lead for Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui, the national centre of workforce development for the mental health, addiction and disability sectors.

Elise Gatti, PhD

Barriers to FireSmart Development Project
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Elise is a multidisciplinary researcher. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta responsible for the the Barriers to FireSmart Development Project from 2019 to 2021.

Henok Asfaw, PhD

First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Project
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Henok is an interdisciplinary social scientist whose research focuses on the human dimensions of hazards and environmental changes. He is particularly interested in the complex ways in which disaster and environmental change impact vulnerable communities and places around the world. He completed his PhD in 2018 at the University of Alberta, Canada. His doctoral research focused on exploring how Sandy Lake First Nation and community members were prepared for, responded to, and recovered from wildfire hazard induced evacuation.

Brieanna Wallace, BSc

First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Project
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Brieanna Wallace, BSc

First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Project
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Brieanna completed her BSc in Biology in 2021 at the University of Alberta. After finishing her degree, she worked in the field of sustainable forestry developing project plans and educational resources. Brieanna is now working with Dr. McGee to conduct research on how Indigenous peoples perceive and adapt to wildfire smoke in Northern Ontario using a quantitative exploratory survey-based approach.

Rylee Thomson,

First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Project
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